Plantain (or Moko) Baked In Orange Juice (recipe)

My mother first made this recipe in 2008 and it was a hit! Plantain is rarely showcased this formally on dinner tables and it really is a shame. In this case, lengths of ripe plantain are oven-baked with orange juice and zest. The result is creamy, with a slightly caramelized exterior.

My personal suggestions with this recipe are to 1) make sure the plantain is adequately ripe i.e. that the skin has become almost completely black. The dish isn’t as appealing when the plantain is too firm. Similarly, rather than topping it with orange zest (as suggested by the recipe), try topping it with some additional brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. The orange zest can tend to get bitter in the oven so keep an eye on it, and make sure that you avoid including any of the white pith. Of course, play around to suit your own personal preferences. Even as I am typing this I am thinking that maybe a blend of zest and sugar may be the perfect compromise. Either way, the results are very Caribbean Glam! 😉

METHOD:
1. Peel and slice plantain in any way one prefers, lengthwise or crosswise
2. Place in a greased baking dish
3. Mix juice, honey, rind and salt
4. Pour over plantain
5. Bake at 350F until nicely browned and cooked (15-20 minutes)

Note: Sweet potatoes could also be done in this way. Parboil potatoes, peel and slice in dish, pour syrup over and bake until potatoes are cooked (25-30 minutes)